Precision apparatus for dividing flowing liquids into definite proportions



pfta 16, $41. K E g U T 2,25@,32

PRECISION APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING FLOWING LIQUIDS INTO DEFINITEPROPORTIONS Filed Feb. 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

%pt. 1%,1941 K E sTUART 2,256,362

PRECISION APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING FLOW LIQUIDS DEFINI INTO TE PROPORTIONFiled Feb. 29, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ep&. 16, 1941. K. E. STUART 2,256,362

PRECISION APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING FLOWING LIQUIDS INTO DEFINITEPROPORTIONS Filed Feb. 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 16, 1941*lumrs o STAT-ES PRECISION APPARATUS ron mvmmo FLOWING LIQUIDS m'roDEFINITE rno- I roa'rross Kenneth E. Stuart, Niagara Falls, N. 1., 411m;

to Hooker Electrochemical Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application February 29, 1940, SerlaLNo. 321,509 .-13-Ciaims." (01.137-166) By precision apparatus" is meant one which willdivide such a flowing. liquid into two or more parts the ratio of whichis' fixed by the construction of the apparatus with a probable error vof the order of one percent or less and may be .6

known to within a tenth of one.percent or less by calibration. I amaware that apparatus for dividing flowing liquids into proportionateparts has been described but so far as I am aware no such apparatuscapable'of the precision that I 19 -have attained hasbeen proposed. Tobe useful for my purpos s such apparatus must not only be accurate butmust maintain a high degree of accuracy over a considerable range offlows;

In nearly all chemical industries the product 1o is liquid at somestage. It' is very important in such industriesto keep an accurateaccount of the quantity as .weil as of the quality, of the liquidproduct, as a check upon yield and for J20 liquid product may be verylarge and its -volumet-';

better control of the process. The volume ofric or moreparticularly itsgravimetric meas-- urement, as well as its accurate sampling, a veryexpensive matter. An example of a large in. dustry producing greatvolumes of liquid product is petroleum refining. Another example iselectrolytic-production of caustic soda. Many'other such examplescoulrlbegiven. My apparatus gives a sample that is not only quantitatively.but also qualitatively accurate. From such a sample chemical yields canbe correctly deter-- mined. h I

One of the most frequent causes of inaccuracy in apparatus heretoforeproposed, depending upon dividing the fiow of liquid between two or morefiow passages, is lack of symmetry. Thus,

a flow of liquid may be divided accurately between 8. large orifice anda small orifice, or between like orifices in anunsymmetricalarrangement, or between like orifices symmetricallyarranged indifferent planes or in two or more concentric circles,provided the flow is constant and the apparatus has been calibrated; butwith such an arrangement any change in flow will change the calibrationmaterially. 45

Other causes of inaccuracy are turbulence in the liquid and entrainedair. Thus a stream of liquid falling through the atmosphere upon' a andin communication with a series of 'like 60 apparatus, mostly in section.

. paratus, largely in section. 50

55 .apparatus, mostly insection;

' Figure -5 is a plan view in section through the orifices along theline b b of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an elevation of another 'form of myorifices under equal-static pressure and also equal V dynamic pressure,if any, and that air be ex' eluded and turbulence minimized orequalized.

For this purpose it is necessary that theorifices be all on the samelevel, otherwise the lowermost I will be under a higher static pressurethan the uppermost. It is necessary that the orifices be Jequidistantlydistributed around a single circle at the center of which'the liquid isintroduced.

It is also desirable thatv the liquid-retaining wall i above and outsidethe circle of orifices be concentric with the orifices. InPatent No.1,964,775

-grantedto me July 3, 1934, there is disclosed an apparatus in which theliquid is introduced at the center of a circle of orifices; but in thiscase the liquidwas introduced from above and the re-" sulting turbulencean'dair; entrainment proved to be very"troub lesorhe. My presentinvention therefore difiers from that referred to in-that the liquid isintroduced from below.

, I am aware that apparatus has been proposed in'which the liquid isintroduced from below and overfiows through a series of V shaped notchesor weirs cut around the rim of the reser-" voir.-' This apparatusisope'n' to the objection.

that weir notches cannot be 'cut with ashigh a degree of precision ascircular orifices: also that whichthe notches are cut or in -levellingthe apparatus results in a relatively enormous error,

I particularly as change in head upon a V notch is accompanied by achange in cross-.

sectional area. I therei'or'e prefer to use circular orifices, not onlybecause they can be cut\ with extreme accuracy, but also because they'can be accurately levelled and operatedunder secure accuracy-indiameter of the orifices is to make them tubular and cut them froma'single piece of tube, so that all are of identical diameter. I l

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is arr elevation of one form of myap- Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig-- ure 1 with theupper or reservoir member removed.

Figure 3 is a plan view in section along the line H of Figure '1.

Figure 4 is an elevation of anotherform of my Referring tol 'igures l to3:;

' tal fiange with respect to conduit 6. ,Flangei5 -'is pierced by aseries of like equidistant orifices l arranged around'a circleconcentric with the open circular mouth of conduit 6. Upon flange in Athe .same horizontal plane.

l is a receptacle formed with-the inner and outer walls 2, a, bottom 4and'top'l which may be cast integrally as shown in the drawings. The

The outer wall 2-- inner wall 2 is cylindrical. is likewise preferablycylindrical. The inner wall 2 -forms aconduit 6, the it axis of whichmust be vertical, passing through the receptacle \from bottom to top.The upper end of conduit-5 is open. The lower end is adapted to beconnected to a source of the liquid to be measured (not shown) throughpipe I, which should be. co-

' axial witn'conduit 6 and of considerably smaller diameter and whichmay be provided with flange g 9 to facilitate coup g with the pipe (notshown) veyed back to chamber'9, Chamber 9 could of course be protectedagainst the, building up of a reduced pressure within it by merelyconnecting leading from said source.

Between walls 2 and 31 is'formed an annular chamber 9 closedat bottomand top by walls 4 and 5 respectively. Wall 5 forms a fiat horizon- 5-ismounted a liquid tight preferably cylindrical retaining wall I]encompassing said oriflcs and concentric with the circular mouth ofconduit 6. Retaining wall H is secured to flange 5 by means of angle l2and bolts I3, the joint being ren-j dered liquid tight by packing ll.Retaining wall ll forms with flange 5 a reservoir 15 into which conduit6 discharges. Reservoir l5 may be closed by cover l6 which may beprovided with water seal I 1.

Orifices I0 may beof any convenient number such as ten and arepreferably formed by short 2,256,862 Q 7 Q r 5 .4"."- 4 liquid, flowingfrom the orifices necessarily spreads more or less and entrains air.This would tend tocreate a reduced pressure in chamber 9. Although thiswould affect all the orifices alike itmight reduce the head of liquidupon them to an extent which would affect the accuracy of the fapparatus. Therefore the discharge from the orifices is collected incompart-.v ment 23 and carried around its circumference- "to allowsufiicient time for the bubbles of air to rise-to the surface before theliquid is carried awaythrough pipe 25. Just before the liquid enterspipe 25 it passes the mouth '21 of a vent pipe 29, through which theentrainedairis'conit to the atmosphere; but in that case if the liquidto be measure'dwerea solution of a salt,

the indraft of air would cause objectionable encrustations.

The apparatus should-be proportioned to the 1 quantity of" liquid it isto measure so that the velocity of the liquidentering pipe I will becient to carry away liquid 'through;them as fast as it enters reservoirl5. f

It will be ncted that the orifices are very ac-. cessible from above andmay be swabbed out with great facility by simply lifting cover [6.

The diameter of conduit. 6 should preferably be between 2 and 3, timesthat of pipe 1, so that the velocity.of the liquid rising in conduit 6can never be sumcient to cause turbulent fiow in this conduit. Thelength of conduits should preferthe holes in flange 5 to exactly thesame dis- 40 ably be 3 to .4 times itsdiameter to allow time tance, sothat the ends of these orifices all lie Orifices H! are positioned todischarge into the annular chamber 9, preferably midway between thewalls 2 and 3.

Chamber 9isdivided by vertical partitions l8, l8'which preferably extendradially between inner and outer walls 2, 3, and are preferably locatedin plan midway between two orifices each for any turbulence at the entryto subside.

It will be observed that the direction of exit of the liquid fromreservoir I5 is opposite to that of its entry, so that the kineticenergy of the entering liquid cannot. increase the static presside of asingle orifice, was to form .a separate tion of helix 29. .The diameterof shell II should liquid tight compartment I9, into which a singleorifice discharges and another large compartment 20 into which all'theother orifices dis-- charge. Partition l8 does not extend all the thetop of compartment l9 communicating with compartment 20 for equalizationof pressure.

The liquid collected in compartment 19, representing exactly one tenthof the liquid entering be between 2 and 2 'times the diameter of conduit6. a

' The diameter of the orifices l0 and height of reservoir l5 should .bedesigned to carry away way up to flange 5, but leaves an open space atthe liq d as fast as t an enter p 1 at the When proportioned as juststated, the maxithrough pipe 1, is carried away through pipe 2|, mumvelocity of the liquid in conduit 6 will be either to be weighed ormeasured or to be. passed I through another similar apparatus to besubdivided again into ten equal parts, each one representing exactly onepercent of the original site directions as indicated by the full linearrows of cast iron ass wh ar the commonest.

pipe 25, which is provided with flange 2G. The

well below the settling velocity of the ordinary kinds of foreign matterliable to be found in liquids to be measured, such as' most salts ingranular form in their'water solutions, of which 5 common salt in brineis an example. This velocity will of course be well below the settlingvelocity of irori scalein such liquids as gasoline, electrolytic causticsoda solutions, etc.

fore for many purposes receptacle l canbemade and cheapest of castablemetals. However, the orifices themselves and the wall II and cover 15lines should -not be made ofJany metal that-can object of compartment 23is as follows: The possibly fo m' ese parts maybe f b a Thereofreservoir l 5 which are located above the oriject through enlargedopenings 33 the purpose to flange'll to a source of said liquid andterminating vergreater diameter than the other orifices.

.7. An apparatus 2,2co,sc2 or copper; but I find-that Monel metal isvery of corrosion resisting metal, such as Monel. In'

this case the flange 8 must be no larger in di ameter than shell 38, sothat it can be drawn out through wall 2. The orifices It may be insertedin either flange 5 or'fiange 3|, but are preferably 'in the latter. Thejoint between flanges 5 and 3| is rendered liquid tight by packing 32,which is-preierably in the form of separate washers surrounding eachorifice. This is better illustrated in Figure 5. The orifices proinflange 5, whichis alsoillustratedinFigure 5.

Another modification of my apparatus is illus-- trated in Figure 6. Inthis case flange 5 isreplaced byinner and outer water seals 3| and .35,with which rims 3G and II, which are added for and to wall llrespectively, co-operate in-well known manner. The

particular purpose or the alternative of Figure 6 is to enable theentirepapparatus to be constructed oi sheet metal, such as steel, copperor. Monel; thus avoiding castings altogether. In

. this case the discharge pipes 2| and 'are con.-

nected vertically to'bottom wall 4.

In the following claims the term orifice is 'used in its technicalsense, in which it denotes an opening or passageformed with precision ina plate and adapted for measurement of fluid flow, as in orifice meters.s

Iclaim as my invention: T 1. A precision apparatus for dividing aflowing liquid into definite proportions comprising a consaid conduit-iscylindrical and ts diameter between 2 and 3 times that 01' the'pipesconnecting A it to said source oiliquid and its length between 3. anditimes' its diameter.

9. An apparatus-as claimed in claim 1 in which the diameter of saidreservoir-forming retaining wall at its lower edge is between-2 and 2%times that of said conduit.

10. A precision ap aratus for dividing a flow-' ing liquid into definiteproportions comprising a conduit. adapted to be connected at its lowerend to a source of said liquid and terminating vertically in a flangedopen-mouth; a series of orifices extending through said flangeequidistantly spaced around a circle concentric with said mouth;sald'orifices being similar as to form.

and-equal as to dimensions and havingtheir inlets lying in the samehorizontal plane; a liquid tight retaining wall upon said flangeencompass.- ing said orifices and concentric .with said circle. formingwith said'flange a reservoir into which the conduit discharges; areceiver surrounding said conduit and arranged to receive the liquidflowing through said orifices; 'a'ndvertical parti itions dividing saidreceiver into compartmentsarranged to receive the liquid flowing through11. A precision apparatus for dividing allowing liquid into definiteproportions comprising a 30 receptacle having-inner,- outer, bottom andtopwall s,' said inner wall defining a vertical conduit I adapted to beconnected at its lower end to a source of said liquid and terminating inan open mouth" around which said top wall forms a said flangeequidistantly spaced arolmd a circle concentric with said mouth, saidorifices being similar as to form and equal as to' dimensions and havingtheir inlets lying in thesame horizon- 4b e said flange encircling saidorifices and concentric With'said circle, forming with said flange ares-.

duit adapted to be connected at its lower-end A tlcally in .a;fiangedopen mouth; a series oi'orifices extending through said flange qidistantly spaced around a -circle concentric with said I v mouth, saidorifices being similar as to iormand equal as to dimensions and havingtheir inlets lying in the same'horizontal plane; a liquid tightretaining wall upon said flange encompassing said orifices andconcentric with said circle, forming withsaid flangea reservoir intowhich the conduit discharges; means ioroollecting the liquid flowingthrough at least one of said orifices: 'and means for collectingthe'liquid flowing through;

2. An apparatus asclaimed in said conduit is cylindrical.

,claim 1 in which; 3- An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which talplane; a liquid tight. retaining wall upon ervoirdnto'which said conduitdischarges; and

vertical partitions in said receptacle extending from its inner to itsouter wall and dividing it into compartments arranged to receive theliquid flowing from specific orifices.

12. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which said =inner,i outer,bottom and top walls are integral, r

13. 'A precision 'apparatusdordividing a flowing liquid into definiteproportions comprising i a conduit. adapted to be connected at its lowerend to a;source of said liquid and terminating vertically in a flangedopen mouth; a seriesof orifices extending through said flange equidis-.-tantly' spaced a circle concentric .with 4 said mouth, said orificesbeing similar as to form said conduit is cylindrical and ofsubstantially the pipe by which connected to said source of liquid.

4. An apparatus as claimedinclaim 1 in which said reservoir-formingretaining wall is cylin-,. dr cal.

said orifices are circular.

-6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5. An apparatus csclaimed in claim1 which i n; which said orifices are tubular and parallel.

bination with means for im P811 1118 m0 tiontothe columnofliquidrisinginW Y said conduit.

8. Anapparatusasc1aimedinclaim 1inwhich75 asclaimedinclaimlincomit is;

h' ch said orifices;

and equal as to dimensions and having their inlets in the samehorizontal plane; a liquid tight I r inin "wall upon said flangeencompassing .said orifices and concentricsaid conduit discharges; saidconduit and adaptedt'o receive liquid flowing ,to receive major group ororifices; an exit from said compartmentjto a channel formed in the lowerpart oi'said receiver; an air point near the upper part of saidreceiver.

. KENNETH E. STUART.

flange; a series of orifices extending through with said circle, iormingwith said flange a-reservoir into which a receiver surrounding verticalpartitions dividing said-receiver into compartmentsone of them liquidflowing. through. a

r pocket mthe'uimer part Y 01' said channel; and a vent pipe connecting.s dr c ett

